//------------------------------// // Chapter 4- With Power Comes Responsibility // Story: Flames of Equestria // by Mick0339 //------------------------------// The pain: utterly unbearable. His body creaked at every single movement, and his eyes wouldn't dare open. His ears were stuffed, and muffles were heard. Similar ones as the princesses were discussing. Was he being tortured, subjected to trials, tests perhaps? Aldon had no idea, except the fact that he had gained back his power, albeit in a more harmful way than he had hoped. "This is magic we've never seen before Princesses." The nurse in usual garb, who was a chocolate mare with a golden mane, said cautiously. The princesses looked on in curiosity at the immense hairless ape. They were in the Ponyville hospital, yet there was no coverage of the next calamity right outside of the town. No coverage of the near-death experience the Princesses had. No one knew what had happened, and the hospital faculty just knew it was a creature they had discovered unconscious outside of the Everfree. However the Princesses knew the man's power. No such animal could possess it, and they knew it well, yet he was completely mortal and vulnerable, but when Fluttershy was struck everything changed. The glint in his eyes, glazed over with autonomous destructive rage, and unending anger and malice. "We wish you to leave us Ms--" "Oh, uh just call me Cocoa Bean, I just started working here." The two princesses nodded, while Luna acknowledged her name and restated her previous line. "Yes, Ms. Bean, please leave us." Cocoa bean nodded and exited the room. They were left alone, with a powerful creature, although injured beyond functino at the moment. They overlooked him and engaged in intense conversation. "Sister, that was the closest I ever felt to Death, and I had Nightmare Moon encompass me. The sign in the sky, a few days ago, is it for good or bad?" Celestia felt nervous at telling her sister, because in all honesty, Celestia had no idea. What could allow anything to garner so much power, yet have it so hidden until now? "I don't know Luna. Nothing even comes to mind. In the last 1000 years nothing has occurred similar to this." They would need to wait until further information popped up, but looking at his form, they noticed the numerous scars and deformations on the skin, both from the previous battle and before. "The story is on his skin. His tale of his life is impeded on his body." They have seen misfortune, even in their own country, yet the princesses had never seen so much on any being before. While intimidating standing, Aldon was simply an object when asleep. Of course he was alive, but no emotion would stem from looking at him while asleep. Celestia slowly moved over to Aldon and felt his skin, only to wide eye. "It's extremely warm, like he might have a fever, and--" as she moved closer to his heart's location, the temperature on her hoof only increased, until it was almost unbearable to keep it on." Luna looked to Celestia, "What is it Sister, do you think it has a cold?" Celestia shook her head. "No, I believe just as how he has fire as his power, it embodies him." His eyes opened, to reveal the two princesses staring at him, slightly making him gasp and shudder in fear, until he realized where he was: a hospital. "I'm not dead?" His voice was so heavy, marbles seemed to vibrate at each syllable, until Luna seemingly hovered a glass of water over to him. Quickly gulping it down, Aldon seemingly had a rejuvinated voice, "So, where am I?" "Ponyville's hospital. you were actually on the verge of death before we brought you here." Of course to Celestia's shock, he simply shrugged his shoulders. "Why would thou think so little of his life? We would expect you to care mroe, considering your last bout with us." Luna's words struck a bullet in Aldon's head, as the information flooded back. The images of him looming over the two, before he seemingly collapsed from exhaustion, dehydration, lack of nourishment, and lack of sleep. He knew what had happened. Rage took control, and granted him his power back. Of course, while he was happy to have it back for protectino purposes, the mere fact he wasn't dead sent questinos floating around. "Why am I not dead?" "What do you mean? Surely you don't think we would kill you?" Aldon simply stared at Celestia, as Luna held her jaw down. "You think that my Sister and I would kill you?" Aldon continued to stare and seemingly ponder. "What makes thou think such a thing?" "Well, considering the fact of the treatment of 'act first, questions later,' and of how you..." He paused as realization hit, "where is that pony?" The princesses were confused, until Celestia figured out his actual question. "Fluttershy is completely well, and shall make a full recovery, that guard however, will need to think of a new set of work to delve into." "Yes, we can't beleive of how he rashly acted, disregarding safety." Aldon felt relieved however as he smiled, but this only scared the ponies more as they shuddered. Aldon noticed as asked in curiosity, "What's the matter?" "Your teeth!" They both said in unison. "Oh, well I'm an omnivore, so I can eat both, but--ooooh, I see now. Well you have nohing to worry about, I won't be eating you guys." He narrowed his eyes for a few seconds, "that is, if you don't try to execute me." "We explained before, we just had a few questions to ask you--" Before Celestia could finish her sentence, another pony barged in, with a notepad ready and waiting. "Hello Princess Luna, Princess Celestia. Do you guys mind if I ask him some questions?" They both knew Twilight's curiosity, but the timing was simply more than coincidence, until they noticed her grin. She had planned it. They both sighed and answered, "We were just about to start." Aldon shook his head as they both looked confused at his action, "I will answer your questions, if you can answer some of mine." "Alright, that seems fair," Celestia responded. A guard, immediately after, barged into the room, "Princesses, your attention is needed at Canterlot; the nobles are complaining again, and threatening secession." "Common routine I suppose?" Aldon asked. "Yes." Celstia sighed, "nobility are always a problem." Aldon laughed to this and watched as they were escorted out, but after whispering to Twilight. "So first, what's your name?" Twilight asked. "Aldon." And while, he kenw what was omming next, he couldn't stop it. "Well, what about your last name?" "I uhh---I don't think I have one." Twilgiht was completely confused. "You don't have one? Haven't you ever had a family?" Aldon sighed. "I used to, but they weren't my birth parents. I don't even remember my blood-family." Twilight knew her mistake and tried to repair it. "Alright, Aldon it is then." "Ok, my turn, what is your name?" He smiled also revealing his teeth, to which Twilight scribbled down. "Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, and Faithful student of Princess Celestia." Before Aldon could ask anything else, Twilgiht asked away, "What exactly are you?" "Wait, you don't have humans here?" Twilight shook her head, until she chuckled, "there are ponies who believe in a race similar to your appearance, but so far they're only myths and legends." "Guess they were right. So you're a human huh?" She paused, "much bigger than I expected." "No, actually I'm much bigger than the average, and well, I don't exactly know why either." "Ok, now me. So what are you? You look like a mix of both a pegasus, and a unicorn? Is that because of breeding or?" Twilight shook her head, "No, I'm an Alicorn, which is essentially a mix, but you can only become one for your deeds or royal blood." "So you are a princess then?" "Well of course, I just told you before I was." "Ok, I think this is the last one I need for now." She paused for emphasis, "what are you good at?" Aldon was ocnfused, "what do you mean." "I mean, what job would you be good at?" "I guess a guard would be good. I mean, I don't know much else besides fighting and protecting." Twilight nodded. "Alright. I think I can help you with that, once you recover." Aldon was confused, he was already getting a job? This quickly. He didn't even see the town, or meet it's locals, or anything. "The princesses told me to ask you, and help you get settled. "Wait, are you sure?" "I can tell other worldy, and from the Princesses telling me, you're probably it. Am I wrong?" Aldon shook his head. "Good." Just then, the recently closed door re-opened to reveal 4 other ponies, also female, and also at his fight. He inwardly sighed: it always gets better. "Hello girls. I just finished asking him some questions." Twilight turned to Aldon, "Aldon, these ponies are my friends, including Fluttershy, the pony who tried to stop the fighting. This is Rarity," Rarity waved. "Applejack," similarly a wave occurred, "Rainbow Dash," instead this time she asked Aldon about the fight, and finally, "Pinkie..." Before he could see the missing pony, he was bombarded by a pink blur. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie. Do you likes sweets? Candy? Cupcakes? Ooo, do yuo liek parties?" As she continued to ramble and gleefully barrage Aldon with questions, the other four tried to haul Pinkie Pie off of him. Aldon, with all the commotion let out a good chuckle, and a heart laugh. "You all look like good friends. An of course, there is always the troublemaker and oddball in the group." "Hey, I'm not a troublemaker, I'm a party maker. Look!" Out of no where a party exploded into the room, and appeared like it was his last day left alive and it was going to be celebrated, hard. Balloons, bubbles, drinks, snacks, even a DJ booth, all inside of the small room. However just as Aldon was about to freak out, it all disappeared, and with a huge grin on her face, Pinkie finished, "see?" "How did you do that?" It came out autonomously from his mouth. "Don't ask, cause even she doesn't know. We just leave it in the It's Pinkie category deary." Aldon could see Rarity was the more elegant of the group, having a high stature in speech. "Yeah, it's her specialty. Ah tell ya' to watch out though, she also loves to surprise people to death." The farm-girl pony Aldon presumed, and judging by her name, Apples were her game. The hat only gave evidence to his presumption. "So, why are you in that bed?" Rainbow Dash asked bluntly, seemingly darkening the mood. "Well, injuries tend to cause that." Aldon chuckled, only to meet a serious face of Rainbow Dash. "Did he hurt the princesses?" Rainbow Dash asked Twilight as everything went quiet. "If you want to know, no. Although I was close." His words sent terror in the other 4 ponies, as they looked at each other repeatedly. Sadly Aldon couldn't deny it. He had almost killed the monarchs of the country. Or in this case diarchs. It was easy to tell considering what authority they held, but the ease he had of almost killing them gave him the impression this country really did need help. He could see now why his demon had told him of the trouble it would face, as he himself was that first sign of it. And in fact, a guard was he best profession for his mission, even though he had no idea what it truly was. "Rainbow Dash, let's put that behind us." Twilight tried to reassure the group of Aldon's second chance in a sense, yet Rainbow Dash wasn't buying it. "How did you do it?" Rainbow Dash asked, knowing full well defeating the princesses in battle was hard, but to almost kill them was near impossible, especially when they are together. Twilight looked to Aldon with hesitation at his next action, but he felt that letting them know was fair. He lifted his hand from the bed and slowly emitted a large flame from the palm. Indeed it was a flame, but it was not used for evil as everyone but Twilight stared on in spectacle. She had been told beforehand of his ability, and it actually scared her, as she could only imagine the power he possessed. They all seemingly squealed at the spectacle, in curiosity, fear and amazement. A being who wields fire, the most untamed element, and most savage of them all. "Tell me, does that damage your clothes when you use it?" Rairty asked. Aldon shook his head, "Then we will definitely need to get you a better wardrobe, a single destroyed pair of pants is simply horrible." "Wait, you're a designer?" Aldon asked. Rarity nodded and flashed her hair. "Only the best in Equestria." She paused, "I think I shall bring you some new clothes tomorrow. I uh, just need your measurements fairly quickly." Aldon nodded, but asked for simple clothes, very bland, with the same type of shoes. Elegance wasn't his style at all. After a few minutes of very odd and embarrassing measurements, for the girls at least, Aldon was back in the bed, where he stretched his legs out more. "Yeah sorry about that." Aldon smiled at the red-blushed girls. Although he could care less, he only loved one person, and she was gone forever from him. And of course horses were the closest mate he could have here, which would not swing very well. After the girls seemingly calmed down, Aldon laid quietly, pondering on the fact he truly would never see Lily again. And while perhaps it wasn't the most intimate relationship, she was one of the only people to not fear him, and hate him for what he is. A monster, and for his case here, he'd rather not introduce everyone to it. Of course, that would most likely come sooner than he'd like. A figure stared from outside of the window. A cloaked figure in broad daylight, smiled as it watched the scene inside of the room. N one noticed it, as it continued its observation. "A good pawn perhaps. I just need to get it alone and be in contact with it." The voice, of a female resounded a small chuckle, as she seemingly dissipated, leaving the conversation inside to continue. The rest of the day, following up on introduction by Aldon, then after the other four ponies left went pretty quiet for him. Although, Twilight had seemingly gave him an irremovable necklace, with quite a weird crest on it. The Sun and Moon intertwined, it looked like. And it's purpose, as she told him was to suppress his magic. He supposed it's fair, as only his fire was affected. Simply put, magic in the blood can reinforce a body and give it more strength, durability and endurance. Of course, using too much of that granted power can be crippling to the magic. Using too much of it can simply be said to deplete the user of their magic until it can be replaced naturally, of course, just like a muscle, magic can grow and adapt after strenuous circumstances. So simple strength bolstering should have no effect on Aldon, and that's only when he would need to use it. The next few days would set him up on a seemingly peaceful path in a world of friendship and magic, but even he could sense calamity on the horizon, and in more forms than one. His demon was right, but just where the heck was he? Aldon surmised he was simply hiding, but even he would've laughed at the scene in the hospital. Aldon put it behind him, and rested after eating some of the hospital's provided food. he would have a very odd day tomorrow to say for sure.